Table 3.

Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies Scale score for nonrandomized clinical trials included in the review.

Studies	Total score	Methodological quality	Number of items of the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies Scalea
			1b	2c	3d	4e	5f	6g	7h	8i	9j	10k	11l	12m
Turolla et al [50]	15/24	Good	2	2	2	2	2	0	0	0	2	2	0	1
Borstad et al [33]	10/16	Good	2	2	2	2	1	1	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Kizony et al [53]	7/16	Poor	2	1	2	2	0	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Sebastián-Romagosa et al [34]	10/16	Good	2	2	2	2	1	1	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

^aThe items are scored 0 (not reported), 1 (reported but inadequate), or 2 (reported and adequate). The global ideal score is 16 for noncomparative studies and 24 for comparative studies.

^bItem 1: A clearly stated aim.

^cItem 2: Inclusion of consecutive patients.

^dItem 3: Prospective collection of data.

^eItem 4: Endpoints appropriate to the aim of the study.

^fItem 5: Unbiased assessment of the study endpoint.

^gItem 6: Follow-up period appropriate to the aim of the study.

^hItem 7: Loss to follow-up less than 5%.

ⁱItem 8: Prospective calculation of the study size.

^jItem 9: An adequate control group.

^kItem 10: Contemporary groups.

^lItem 11: Baseline equivalence of groups.

^mItem 12: Adequate statistical analyses.